Editor’s note: From now until reporting day to training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2026 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with two players each day between June 13 and July 28. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.
QB AARON RODGERS
Experience/age: 22nd season, 42
Contract status: $22.5 million cap hit in 2026, signed one-year contract
The past: A four-time MVP and a future Hall of Famer, Rodgers proved last season that his arm was still NFL-worthy, even into his early 40s. He joined the Steelers as a free agent and led them to an AFC North title, all while putting two lackluster seasons with the Jets behind him. He passed for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions with a 10-6 record in the regular season. He completed 65.7% of his passes, slightly better than his career average.
Two years removed from an Achilles injury, Rodgers at times seemed rejuvenated, even dusting off the championship belt celebration he made famous in Green Bay. He missed Week 12 to a broken wrist but played through the injury during the team’s final seven games, including a playoff loss to the Texans.
Pro Football Focus gave Rodgers his lowest full-season grade since becoming a starter in 2008. He received a 68 on PFF’s 100-point scale, which ranked him 17th among starting quarterbacks. However, PFF analytics credited Rodgers with 27 so-called “big time throws,” which the website defines as “a pass with excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window.” He ranked 11th last season in that category, according to PFF.
Aaron Rodgers says he thought he was done with the Steelers after Mike Tomlin retired — but Mike McCarthy’s hire reopened up that possibility pic.twitter.com/SwGOqCPQrs
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) May 20, 2026
2026 outlook: Rodgers delayed his countdown to Canton and decided to return to the Steelers for another season — declaring this his career finale. The comeback reunites him with coach Mike McCarthy, for whom he played 11 seasons as the Packers’ starting quarterback. Rodgers won two of his four MVP awards under McCarthy. The question this fall is whether they can rekindle that success in an offense Rodgers already knows well.
Despite solid overall passing numbers, some of Rodgers’ underlying stats were pedestrian in Arthur Smith’s offense. Rodgers threw plenty of short, quick passes last season. His average depth of target was 6.6 yards, the lowest in the NFL, according to PFF. He also ranked as the third-quickest passer with a 2.6-second per play average. His top pass-catcher a year ago was a running back, but the Steelers improved their receiver room in the offseason by adding veteran Michael Pittman Jr. and second-round pick Germie Bernard.
Rodgers ranks fifth on the NFL’s career passer list with 66,274 yards and fourth in touchdowns with 527. He can move past Peyton Manning and into third place with 13 TDs.